Submitted By: Tammi Haslam
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Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
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Department: Budget
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Budget Resolution 2025-185 to adopt the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget for the City of Ocala in the amount of $1,152,885,830
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Fiscally Sustainable
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
Ocala Gazette 09/12/2025
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BACKGROUND:
Public hearings were held on September 3, 2025, adopting a tentative millage rate and a tentative budget for the City of Ocala. The required Truth in Millage advertisements were published in the Ocala Gazette on September 12, 2025. Public hearings will be held on September 16, 2025, at 5:01 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, located at 110 S.E. Watula Avenue, to adopt the final millage rate and final budget for the City of Ocala. The final millage rate adopted cannot exceed the tentative rate adopted on September 3, 2025. Highlights of the final budget are as follows:
* The overall budget totals $1,152,885,830.
* The General Fund budget totals $188,100,612.
* The budget is balanced at a millage rate of 6.6177, which is 5.83 percent above the rolled-back rate of 6.2532.
* The additional revenue derived from the increase over the rolled-back rate will support the addition of critical employees and assist with increasing cost pressures related to salary, benefit, and operating costs.
* The General Fund reserve for fund balance is fully funded at the 20 percent level.
* All funds are balanced revenues to expenditures.
* The budget includes an updated citywide fee schedule.
* The Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board adopted the Community Redevelopment Subarea Funds' budgets on September 3, 2025.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Per Florida Statutes, Section 200.065, the City Council is required to hold a public hearing to adopt the final millage and budget for the City of Ocala. The Council, Mayor, City Manager, and all departments have participated in the budget process.
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